Wheel-clamp.



J. T. FIELDS.

WHEEL CLAMP;

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I8, I916- 1,187.,O56. I Patented'Juneli, 1916.

JAMES r. FIELDS, or Mason CITY, ILLINOIS.

WHEEL-CLAMP.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 13, 1916.

Application filed March 18, 1916. Serial N0. 85,157.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES T. FIELDS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mason City, in the county of Mason and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVheel-Clamps, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved wheel clamp and has for itsprimary object to provide a'simple and effective device for positivelyclamping the car wheels to the track rails when the journal box israised or jacked up in order to insert a new brass, or for othernecessary operations.

It is another and more particular object of the invention to provide adevice for the above purpose embodying a clamping member havingangularly projecting lips formed on its opposite ends for engagementwith the car wheel flange and the outer side of the rail headrespectively, and improved means for adjustably mounting a bolt shank insaid member, said bolt shank having a hook formed on one end forengagement over the inner side of the rail head and an adjusting nutthreaded upon its other end.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device for theabove purpose, which is quite simple in its construction, ex-

ceedingly strong and durable in practical use, and capable ofmanufacture at small cost.

With the above and other objects in view,

my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combinationand arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimedand illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the application of my improvedclamp to the car wheel and rail; Fig. 2- is a vertical sectional viewtaken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an edge elevation of theclamp.

Referringindetail to the drawing, 5 designates the clamping memberproper which is in the form of a single metal casting having a medial,relatively thick portion 6. Upon one end of this clamping member, theangularly disposed lip 7 is formed, and upon the other end thereof,projecting from the same side of the clamping member, a second angularlip 8 is formed. It will be noted that this latter lip is of less lengththan the lip 7. The narrow angularly projecting lip 8 is adapted forengagement beneath the head of the rail on the outer side thereof, whilethe lip 7 engages over the flange w of the car wheel W.

i The intermediate relatively thick portion 6 of the clamping member isformed with an opening 9 therethrough, said opening being graduallyelongated longitudinally of the casting from the outer to the inner facethereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Through this flaringopening, the bolt shank 10 is loosely disposed and has a threaded endportion 11. The other end of this bolt is formed with a hook- 12 whichis adapted for engagement over the head of the rail on the inner sidethereof, as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing. A clamping nut 13 is engagedupon the threaded end of the bolt, and the outer face of the member 5which is opposed to the nut is obliquely inclined or beveled, as at14,to provide the shoulder 15. The nut 13 is provided with a" square orrectangular body portion which is adapted to frictionally engage againstthe inclined face 14.

From the above description, the construc- 7 tion of the device will beclearly understood. Its application in practical use may be readilyperceived from an examination of the accompanying drawing. After the lip8 has been engaged beneath the under side of the rail head and the lip 7engaged over the flange on the car wheel, the bolt shank is adjustedthrough the opening 9 in the .member 5 so as to clearly engage the hook20 on the end of said bolt over the inner side of the head. The nut 13is then threaded inwardly upon the bolt shank into bearing contactagainst the inclined surface 14 of the casting and said bolt shank drawnthrough the opening 9 until its hooked end is tightly clamped againstthe rail heads By providing the flaring opening 9 so that the bolt shankmay be oscillated or longitudinally adjusted with respect to the bodycasting, the device may be more easily and quickly applied to the carwheel and rail and also adjusted to such position with respect theretoas will afford the most secure clamping contact of the several partswith the rail and Wheel. After thus securely V clamping the car Wheel inplace, the journal box may be raised by means of a suitable j ad: in theordinary manner.

In the foregoing, I have disclosed the present preferred form andconstruction 7 of the several parts of my improved clamp,

but it is, of course, manifest that the same may be variously modifiedin these respects and I, therefore, reserve the privilege of adoptingall such legitimate changesas may be fairly embodied Within the spiritand scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I desire to claim andsecure by Letters Patent is 1. A Wheel clamp including a body'mem- 1 berhaving angularly disposed lips formed upon its opposite ends forengagement with the outer side of the rail head and the Wheel flangerespectively, said body member being formed with an opening intermediateof its 'endsgradually elongated longitudinally of 7 of the rail head,and a nut threaded upon the other end of said bolt shank for engagementagainst the body member to draw the Copies ofthis patent may be obtainedfor bolt through said opening and the hook thereon into clampingengagement With the rail head.

2. A car Wheel clamp including a body member having. angularly disposedlips formed upon its opposite ends for engagement with the outer side ofthe rail head and the Wheel flange respectively, and having a relativelythick medial portion provided With an opening therethrough graduallyelongated longitudinally of said member from one face to the other ofthe same, the outer face of said body member at the smaller end of saidopening being obliquely inclined, a bolt shank loosely disposed throughsaid opening and having a hook formed on one end for engagement over theinner side of the rail head, and a nut threaded upon the other end ofsaid bolt for engagement against the inclined face of said body memberto draw the bolt through said opening and thehook thereon into clampingengagement upon the rail head.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signature in the presence oftWo Witnesses. JAMES T. FIELDS. Witnesses:

M. M. LAMAR, W. R. FIDDLER.

five cents each, by addressing the ,Gommissioner of Patents. 7Washington, D. G.

